BRANDON – The East Mississippi Community College men’s golf team claimed its highest team finish to date this fall placing fifth in last week’s Hinds Community College Invitational played at Castlewoods Country Club.

The EMCC Lions carded consistent rounds of 308 on Monday and 311 the following day to edge sixth-place Northeast Mississippi (316-304—620) by a shot and surpass host Hinds (312-320—632) by 13 strokes. Top-ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast (288-287-575) outdistanced the 12-team field by 31 shots. East Central (310-296—606) finished as the tourney’s runner-up ahead of Jones (292-315—607) and Meridian (313-297—610).

Individually for EMCC, sophomore Lorenzo Ligabue, from Italy, finished the two-day event in a five-way tie for 15th place overall at 152 after firing a pair of 4-over-par 76s.

EMCC freshman Lawson Burton improved three shots with a final-round 75 to land in a three-way tie for 20th place with a 153 total.

As part of a five-way deadlock for 29th place, freshman Bryce Shivers and sophomore Trace Carpenter both totaled 157 with rounds of 78-79 and 76-81, respectively, for the Lions.

Rounding out East Mississippi’s lineup this week, freshman Whitt Welch shaved four shots off his opening round to end up in a three-way tie for 61st place with a total score of 176 (90-86).

Competing as an individual during this week’s conference event, EMCC freshman Pelayo Castillo found himself in a four-way tie for fifth place following Monday’s opening-round, 1-over-par 73. The Spain native settled for a 35th-place tie overall with a two-round total of 159.

Peyton Russell (66-70—136) of the tournament champion MGCCC Bulldogs earned individual medalist honors with a seven-shot victory over runner-up Paul Swanepoel of East Central (73-70—143).

Head coach Ashton Maddaloni’s EMCC men’s golf team will be back in action, Oct. 28-29, at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Fall Invitational to be played at Windance Country Club in Gulfport.